Insulated ledger desk



Nov. 6, 1956 c. F. WOLTERS 2,769,678

' INSULATED LEDGER DESK Filed March 51', 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ 5 INVENTOR. CARL F. WOLTERS ATTORNEYS 1956 c. F. WOLTERS INSULATED LEDGER DESK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1955 FIG? 8'6 INVENTOR.

CARL F. WOLTERS ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1956 c. F. WOLTERS INSULATED LEDGER DESK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 31, 1953 FIG. IO

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AT TO R NEYS 1956 c. F. WOLTERS INSULATED LEDGER DESK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 51', 1953 INVENTOR CARL F. WQLTERS ATTORNEYS United States Fatent O 2,769,678 INSULATED LEDGER DESK Carl F. Wolters, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,928 3 Claims. Cl. 312-310) This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in desks, particularly desks of the fireproof type adapted tohold tray tiles that may be elevated from the bottom of the desk to the top thereof and it has for its general object an improved and practical desk of this nature.

The invention proposes a desk in the form of a boxlike fire resistant container of cabinet having a cover which can he slid forwardly and then caused to fold downwardly, thedownward movement being used as leverage to raise out of the cabinet to a conveniently accessible position a tray unit carrying a ledger case or the like.

A feature of the invention resides in simple and efficient mechanism whereby the tray unit may be easily raised out of the interior of the desk to a position affording convenient access to the contents of the tray. This feature is enabled by the cooperative relation of the slidable cover in conjunction with leverage mechanism of a simple and practical construction whereby the tray unit with its coritents may be raised out of the desk.

A further feature of the invention lies in a certain look ing arr' angeinent provided by the cooperative relation of the sliding cover with the tray raising mechanism and which'lends to the efficiency and simplicity of the latter.

Another feature of the invention lies in other mechanism whereby the tray unit, after being raised out of the desk, provides a ledger case tray movable to a desirable forward position.

A further feature of the invention lies in a mechanism cooperatively associated with both the movable ledger case and the slidable cover whereby these are mutually latched in a finally selected position. I

The invention further lies in the novel construction, arrangement, and cooperative association of the various elements of the desk to one another.

A desk embodying the invention provides many advantages, not only inthe simplicity with which the cover is removable from the desk and the tray unit is raised, but also in the movablenature of the ledger case on" the tray unit and the associated latching mechanism whereby the ledger case is movable to a position atfordingfconvenient access to its contents and is automatically latched in" such position. case can neither move further forward, rearward, nor downward; Further, the desk is of conventional desk height, so that the file contents thereof are conveniently accessible from a sitting position and tiring standing" positions are no longer necessary.

The foregoing objects and advantages of this invention, as well as -others, will become readily apparent as this specification unfolds in greater detail and as it is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings, wherein a desk embodying the invention is illustrated:

Fig. lisa perspective view of the desk with aportion cut away;

In this latched position the ledger 2,769,678 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 2 the cover in its lowered position and the ledger case moved forwardly onto the cover; h

, Fig. 3 is a view with the right wall cut away illustrat ing the closed position of the cover and the normal posi= tion of the tray elevating mechanism;

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the cover and associated tray/elevating mechanism immediately prior to lowering of the cover; I

Fig; 5 illusitr ates the arrangement of the cover and leverage mechanism when the tray is in its fully raised position and the cover is in its lowered position; V Fig. 6 is a fragmentary left side elevational view showing the tray ledger case moved to its forward position and showing associated latching mechanism; A U ,I

Fig. 7 is a front elevational detail directed to the ledger case tray latch; iv i Fig. 8 is a side elevational detail of the ledger case tray lacth;

, Fig. 9 isa plan detail on a line 9-9 of Fig. 6; V

Fig. lOis a detail rear view of the leverage mechanism at the left side of the desk;

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the leverage mechanism iii normal position at the rear of the desk at the left side;

,Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are detail progressive views of the leverage mechanism at the left side of the desk in w ich a i, .7

Fig. 12 shows the leverage mechanism drawn to its most forward position;

Fig. 13 shows the cover drawn to its most forward position prior to Being" lowered; and

Fig. 14 shows the cover in itslowered position;

Fig'. 15 is a perspective view directed to the cover latchifig mechanism at the left side just prior to its being released;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the mechanism in Fig. 15 and showing the'cover latch as released from the leve'ia 'e mechaiiistii; and g V Fig; 17 is a' rear elevational view sectioned on the line 1 7 17 of'Fig. 16. s p

In further describing the invention reference is directedto the several figures of the drawings, wherein there is disclosed a box-like container or cabinet generally designated 1 which includes bottom and side walls and is open at the op; The rear wall 2 and the right and left side walls 3 are of equal height, while the front wall 4 is of a lesser height so as to allow a forwardlysliding movement of a cqversover it. The several walls are encased in sheet metal 6 and include a suitable lining 7 of fire resistant material. The cover 5 is likewise of fire proof construction. It also is encased in sheet metal and provided with a suitable lining of fire resistant material.

I The cover is sli'dable from a rearward position closing the cabinet as in Figs. 3 and 11, to a forward position openingthe cabinet, as in Figs. 4 and 13. The cover is provided along its several sides with suitable tongue and groove formation engageable with complementary tongue larger scale taken on the and groove formations in the perimet'ric edges of the front,

rear and side walls. When the cover is in its closed position, the tongue and groove formations serve to effectively seal theinte'rior of the cabinet against the entrance of heat and fire. The tongue and groove formations of the side'walfls further lend in guiding and supporting the cover inslidable movements. Further detailing the nature. of the perimet'ric edges of the cover and cabinet, the cover (Fig. 10) is provided longitudinally of its right and leftsides with tongue and groove formations 8 engageable with complementary tongue and groove formations 91migitu'dina'lly of the top edges of the right and left cabinet provided with tongue and groove formations 11 engageabl' with complementary f0rrnations12 along the inner sidewalls. Along its rear edge the cover 5 (Fig. I1 is edge of the cabinet rear wall. The cover (Figs. 1, 2, 14) depends downward at its forward end as at 14 and is there provided along its inner face with tongue and groove formations 15 engageable with complementing formations 16 along the outer edge of the forward wall 4.

Within the interior of the cabinet is contained a tray unit generally designated 17 (Figs. 2, 4, 5, which includes a main tray 18 having a bottom wall 19 and right and left side walls 21. The main tray is without front or rear walls. The main tray is rectangular and of smaller dimensions than the interior perimeter of the cabinet, and it is arranged for a uniform up and down movement therein. The main tray is spaced, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, from the left inner wall and similarly from the right, a reasonable distance to allow for free unimpeded movement of mechanism at the sides for raising and lowering it. The tray unit can be raised from a position at the lower portion of the cabinet to a position at the top of the cabinet and it is uniformly supported and guided in these movements by suitable mechanism at each side. To this end the main tray 18 is mounted on two pairs of lazy tongs 22, of which one pair is individual to and arranged to serve the right side of the tray and the other pair is individual to and arranged to serve the left side. The structure and association with the tray of the tongs on the right side is repeated identically on the left, and a description of one applies to the other, as below.

(Figs. 3, 5, 10, ll, 14) Tongs 22 include a pair of crossed arms 23, 24 pivoted to one another centrally at 25. The rear lower end of arm 23 carries a roller 26 on its outer face which is arranged for rearward and forward movement in a channel track 27. The latter is attached to the inner face of side wall 3 near the bottom thereof and extends from the front to the rear substantially the full length of the wall. The forward end of track 27 terminates in a plate portion 28 to which is pivoted the forward lower end 29 of cross arm 24. The upper rear end of the latter arm carries a roller 31 which is arranged to ride in a channel track 32. The latter is secured to the outer side of the tray side wall 21, and extends from the rear thereof to a point short of the forward end. At this forward end the track terminates in a plate portion 33. To the latter plate the upper forward end of cross arm 23 is pivoted at 34.

Suitable leverage mechanism is provided on the right and left interior sides of the cabinet whereby the tray unit may be uniformly elevated or lowered in the cabinet. This mechanism is arranged in the spaces that separate the right and left side walls 21 of the tray from the inner faces of the cabinet side walls 3. The leverage mechanism and its arrangement on one side is repeated identically on the other and a description of one applies to both as below.

(Figs. 4 and 10) In the inner face of that portion 35 of the side walls 3 which extends higher than the front wall 4 is a channel 36 extending from front to rear the full length of the inner face of the side wall. At its forward end channel 36 opens through to the outside of the front edge of side wall 3 and just above the top side 37 of front wall 4. Along its length channel 36 opens into the cabinet. Engaged for to and fro sliding movement in the channel is a bar member 38. The upper longitudinal edge of the channel carries a depending lip 39 partially closing the channel groove so as to retain the sliding bar member 38 therein. The latter is adapted to be moved from a position at the rear of the cabinet as in Figs. 3 and 11, to a position extending over and a little beyond the front wall 4 as in Figs. 4 and 14. It is limited in the extent of its forward movement by a rectangular plate element 41 depending from its rear and which upon forward movement of the sliding member 38 is adapted to limit against a bumper 42 mounted on the inner face of the cabinet front wall.

The plate element 41 is adapted to be carried by this;

sliding bar 38 forwardly and rearwardly and in close proximity to the inner face of the cabinet side wall 3 in a recessed portion 43 of the latter. To prevent any binding movement, a spacer 44 as in Figs. 10, 15, is provided between the plate 41 and sliding bar 38.

Adjacent the inner face of sliding bar 38 and at the forward end thereof is pivoted at 45 a lever bar 46, arranged for parallel side by side carriage with the sliding bar 38. A spacer 47 is provided between the sliding bar 38 and the lever bar 46 so as to prevent any binding movement between the two. The lever bar is associated with the cover 5 in a manner later to be described whereby, when the cover is pulled forward, the lever bar is carried along with it over the top side of the front wall to a position extending substantially beyond the latter as in Figs. 4 and 13. It is limited in the extent of its forward movement by the limited movement of the associated slide bar.

Lever 46 and slide bar 33 are operatively connected, as shown in various figures of the drawings to the side of the main tray 18 whereby the latter is lifted on its tongs to its uppermost position. In this association the upper end of a link 48 is pivoted at 49 to the lower forward corner of rectangular plate 41. At its opposite end link 48 carries a roller 51 on its inner face, which roller is engaged and adapted to ride in a channel track 52 secured longitudinally to the outer side of the tray wall 21. Track 52 is immediately above and adjacent to tong track 32. A vertical link 53 is pivoted at its lower end 54 to the outer face of link 48 just above the roller end of the latter. The upper end of link 53 pivots at 55 to an car 56 depending from the underside end of lever bar 46. A spacer 57 between plate 41 and the upper end of link 48 prevents binding in the movement of the associated linkage.

It is plain now that upon a forward movement of lever bar 46, slide bar 38 will be carried with it and that the related linkage 48, 53 will also be carried forwardly of the cabinet bringing the roller end 51 of the linkage forwardly of channel track 52 as in Figs. 12 and 15. The forward position of roller 51 will be limited by the limited movement of plate 41. A forwardly extending portion 58 on the plate spacer 57 cooperating with the bumper stop 42 limits the movement of the plate and related bars and linkage to a desired position for elevating the entire tray unit. When the lever bar 46 and associated linkage have been moved to this forward position the mechanism is in position for elevating the tray unit. A downward pressure on the extended portion of the lever bar will turn it on its fulcrum pivot 45 from a horizontal position to a vertical position as in Figs. 5 and 14 to raise the ear 56 at its rear. Raising the latter will lift the vertical link 53 and associated link 48 to the position as in Figs. 5 and 14. Raising of the latter links will lift the tray unit from its lowermost position to its uppermost position at the top of the cabinet by means of the roller 51 engaged in the channel track 52 at the side of the tray. The tongs 22 will as a consequence expand with the elevation of the tray unit and will guide the latter uniformly as it moves upward.

It is understood, as previously mentioned, that the tongs and leverage mechanism on one side of the tray are repeated identically on the other, so that downward pressure on the lever bars 46 at both sides of the tray will expand the tongs at both sides to lift the tray by a uniform and guided movement to its upper position.

The tray unit 17 is designed to carry a ledger case generally designated 59 loaded with record cards 61. Consequently, a counter-balancing weight is required to facilitate lifting the heavily loaded tray assembly out of the cabinet. For this purpose the weight of the cover 5 serves as the counter-balancing weight affording the necessary leverage pressure for raising the entire tray unit.

The cover is provided on its right and left sides with identical structures associated with the leverage mechagrasses hisnr at each side of the cahi'net. To this and the cover includes a pair of depending roller supporting plates 62, one onits right, the other on its left (Fig. 1 The structure of the cover, as mentioned, in its association with the leverage mechanism is identical on its right and left sides and the description below applies to either side.

On the outer face of a support plate 62 near the rear thereof is carrieda roller 63 and about m-idway'of' the plate is another roller 64. The rollers are engaged in and adapted to ride in a channel 65 (Fig. 15') along the inner face of lever bar 46. Latching means (Figs; 14-17) is provided whereby, when the cover is pulled forwardly of the cabinet it will first draw with it the leverage bar 46 toits foremost position; after the latter has reached this position the latchingmechanism is automatically released and then the cover alone will be free to be pulled further forward. During this further movement the cover rides the lever bar channels on its rollers to a point where its further movement is arrested by a stop 66 (Fig. 14) at the forward end of the lever'cha'nn'el. The latching mechanism includes an anchor plate 67 (Figs. I5, 16. and 17) pivoted at its forward end 6801i the outer face of the cover support plate 62 between rollers 63 and 64. This plate 67 is provided onit's under side with :1 depending rounded car 69 adapted to ridethe lower inner wall of channel 65 and it is further provided at its free end with a nose 71 adapted to engage in a keeper slot 72 in the channel lower wall. When the nose 71 is engaged in the keeper slot 72" the rounded eat 69 protrudes through another slot 73 of the channel lower wall.

In its operation, when the cover is moved fromits forward' horizontal open position as in Fig. 4 to closing position as in Fig. 3 its rollers 63,. 64 ride in the lever bar channel until the inner face of a marginal lip' 74. of the cover abuts against the forward end of the lever bar 46. At this time the latch nose 71 will be aligned with and caused to engage in the keeper slot 72 of the channel bar 46 looking the lever bar and cover together. It' can now be seen that as the lever bar is carried rearward latched to the cover as the latter is moved to closing position, the slide bar 38 and the associated linkages 48, 53 and roller 51 will also be carried rearward to their normal positions.

Now, when the cover is pulled forwardly from its closed position, the cover and lever bar still locked by the anchor plate 67 are drawn forward together as in Fig. 15. When the rectangular plate 41 abuts the wall stop 42 and limits further movement of lever bar 46', the round car 69 of the anchor plate will have been car ried to the edge of wall 4. It will then be pressed upward and the nose 71 will slip out of the keeper slot as the cover is pulled further forward over the top of the front wall, whereupon the cover will be released and free to ride on its rollers 63, 64 the rest of the way to its most forward position where further movement is limited by roller 64 limiting against the channel stop 66.

Further, when the cover is arrested in its forward horizontal movement it will be in aposition wherea slight downward pressure will cause it to lower and the associated leverage mechanism at each side to raise the tray unit in the manner previously described. To facilitate forward movement of the cover and the associated lever bar 46, a fulcrum bearing 75 (Fig. 12) is provided at the inner side of side wall 3 on which the underside of the lever bar 46 rides as it moves forwardly. It is plain that when the cover is lifted from its lowered vertical position as in Fig. 14 to its horizontal position in Figs. 4 and 13 lever bar 46 and links 48, 53 will be restored to their normal position and with them the tray unit will be lowered contracting the lazy tongs 22 as it goes down to noirnal position.

Since the lazy tongs, leverage and associated cover and latching mechanism on one side of the cabinet are identically repeated on the other side, it can readily be seen how 6 a balanced and uniform raising and lowering of the tray unit will be effected. When the tray unit is fully raised and the cover fully lowered the weight of the latter serves to counter-balance the former when fully loaded and to hold it in' its raised position.-

A further feature of the invention pertains to the nature of the tray unit and its association with the cover to provide among other things accessibility to the contents of the-tray unit and a means of mutually locking each other in their work positions after the cover has been lowered to its vertical position. To this end the tray unit has been specially designed and it includes besides the main tray 18 a ledger case tray 76. The latter includes (Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9) an upper plate 77 on top of which are carried individual file card racks 78. Fixed to the underside of plate 77 a little in from the right and left marginsis a pair of depending plate walls'79 between which a drawer 8 1 is contained and adapted to slide through a front wall opening 82; Walls 79 are connected to one another by a-bot tom cross plate 83 Longitudinally of the outer lower side of each wall 79 is fixed a channel track 84 in which there are engaged rollers 85 (Fig. 10). The latter are carried on studs 86 mounted on the inner faces of the main tray walls 21'. There is desirably more than one roller 85 to each wall. Now, when the entire tray unit 17 is raised to its uppermost position in the cabinet and the cover is fully lowered, the ledger case tray 76' is in a positionwhere it is movable on the rollers 85' over the topside of the front Wall of the cabinet to a position where the bottom wall 83 rests at its forward end upon a shoulder 87 (Fig. 6) of the cover. Latching means is provided to lock the tray in the-latter position, and is pro vided at the left side of the tray only (Figs. 6-9) it not being felt necessary to repeat the latch on the right side. The latching'mechanism includes an angle plate secured hy'on'e' flange 88 to the underside of the bottom plate 77 and by another flange 89 to the outer face of the left wall 79'. Pivoted on a stud 91depending from flange 88 is a latch lever extending rearwardly. A handle formed por tion 92 of the latter is parallel to and normally positioned adjacent flange 89. From the pivot point 91 rearward the latch lever has a rear portion 93 disposed angularly away from the-side wall 79. Spacers 94 mounted on the upper surface of the latch lever on either side of the pivot stud provide a space for an expansion spring 95 ringed on the pivot stud; One end of the springis secured at 96 in the surface of the lever and the other free end 97 limits against wall flange 89' so as to tension the handle end of the lever against the latter flange. The rear or latch end 93 of the lever is adapted to engage a lip 98 of the'lever bar channel 65 so as to latch the ledger case in its forward position over the cover. The manner of latching may be gathered particularly from Figs. 6 and 9, where the lever channel 65 on the left side of the desk is shown in its vertically raised position after the tray unit has been elevated. Now, when the ledger case tray 76 is pulled forward on its rollers the latch end 93 is pressed inwardly against the tension of spring 95 as it is drawn with' the ledger case" past the channel lip 98 (Fig. 9); the latch leve'r'is then again tensioned outward as it passes the lip and enters the channel 65. The latch end 93 limits in the channel. The ledger case is prevented from further forward movement by the leading edge of the case limiting against lip 99 of the cover (Fig. 6); it is latched against rearward movement by the latch engaged against channel bar lip 98. It is plain that while the tray is so latched the cover and ledger case are mutually locked, the cover cannot be lifted and the tray unit cannot be moved backward nor lowered. Drawing the handle end 92 of the latch outward against the tension of spring 95 will, it is plain, draw the latch end 93 out of the lever bar channel permitting the ledger case tray to be moved rearwardly again.

While in this forward position the ledger case with its card racks is more easily accessible for handling by the personseated nearby. Further accessibility to the contents of the ledger case is afforded by the file drawer'81 which may be pulled out beyond the cover as in Fig. 2.

A further feature of the desk is disclosed in the card racks 78 carried on the ledger case tray 76. Each card rack is provided with a front and a rear wall 101 hinged at the bottom 102 to the base of the card rack and free to pivot outward a limited extent as in Fig. 2, car and stop means at 104 being provided at the sides of the walls 101 for this limited movement. Slight pressure by a forward or rearward movement of the cards in the rack will pivot the walls 101 outward. This loosens the cards in a tightly packed rack and facilitates handling. Means are provided whereby the walls 101 after being pivoted outward may be automatically pivoted back to normal vertical position. This means includes a pair of rollers 103 mounted in the front and rear wall of each rack. When the front and rear walls are in normal vertical position the rollers are adapted to ride against the inner faces of the front and rear walls of the cabinet as the tray unit is either being lowered or raised out of the cabinet. From this it is plain that when the tray unit is being lowered to restore it to its position within the cabinet, any of the walls of the racks which have been pivoted outward will be cammed back to normal position as the tray unit is lowered and the rollers abut against the inner faces of the rear and front walls of the cabinet.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred em bodiment of the invention, it is my intent, however, to claim the invention in all such forms thereof as may reasonably be construed to be within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A file comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, guide members mounted on the side walls of said cabinet at the upper inner side edges and extending from the front to the'rear thereof, supporting members mounted to travel back and forth in said guide members at each side of said compartment having an arm projecting beyond the front Wall of the cabinet in the forward position thereof, cover carrying members pivoted intermediate the ends on the forward ends of said arms at each side of said cabinet, means slidably mounting said cover on opposite sides on said cover carrying members for movement into an extended position with the forward cover portion extending beyond the forward ends of said arms and into non-extended relation in which said arms lie within the lconfines of said cover when the cover is moved into closed position, toggle lever means at each side of said cabinet having opposite ends of toggle levers connected to the rear ends of said cover carrying members and supporting members, respectively, means near the joints of said toggle levers slidably engaged with track members on said tray, and means connected with said tray and cabinet for guiding said tray in said cabinet in movement toward and from the open end, whereby said cover moves said supporting and cover carrying members on said guide members in operation between open and closed positions, pivots said cover carrying members on said arms in front of said cabinet in moving to an open position adjacent the front wall of said cabinet operates said toggle lever means to move said tray into projecting relation from the open end of said cabinet, and counterbalances tray weight greater than the weight thereof.

2. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the top, guide members mounted on the upper inner margins of the side walls and extending from the front to the rear thereof, a tray unit mounted in said compartment for parallel movement to and from the upper open end thereof, guideways on opposite sides of said tray unit, supporting slide members, one at each side of said cabinet mounted on said guide members for movement between the front and rear walls of said cabinet, each slide member having a supporting arm projecting forwardly in front of said cabinet in the forward position thereof, lever bars each pivoted intermediate its ends on the forward end of one of said supporting arms, a cover means slidably mounting said cover on said lever bars for movement from the outer ends thereof in projecting relation in front of said cabinet into a telescoped relation when the cover is closed with said arms and supporting slide members moving to the rear portion of said compartment, and a pair of toggle links on each side of said cabinet, each having one end of each link pivotally connected together and the free ends connected to the rear portions of said supporting slide members and lever bars respectively, and rollers on one of said links of each pair engaging the guideways on said tray unit for moving said tray unit to and from the open end of said compartment with the opening and closing movements of said cover, whereby said cover operates to counterbalance the weight of said tray unit and in opening movement operates said lever bars on their pivots in elevating said tray unit through the cooperation of said toggle links.

3. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the upper end, a tray mounted for movement in said compartment to and from said open upper end, a closure for the open upper end of said compartment, means for supporting said cover for movement between closed and an open position adjacent the front wall of said cabinet having a supporting member attached to each side of said cabinet, a pivoted member on the front end of each supporting member attached to said cover and lever means connected at opposite ends to said supporting member and pivoted member respectively, and means connecting an intermediate portion of said lever means to said tray, whereby movement of said cover to open position will operate said lever means to move said tray to the upper end of said cabinet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,385 Kiefer Aug. 6, 1889 1,921,690 Miller Aug. 8, 1933 1,943,997 Wolters Jan. 16, 1934 2,003,302 Miller et al. June 4, 1935 2,201,948 Watkins May 21, 1940 2,338,477 Wolters Jan. 4, 1944 

